Digital data distributing system

Abstract

An object of the invention is to provide a system in which various services can be received by a plurality of receiving devices having different structures, without having to take into consideration the difference in the structures, by connecting an adapter that corresponds to the service the user wishes to receive. The distribution server 301 communicates with the storage media access adapter 303 via the receiving device 302, and thereby controls distribution of digital data.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001] 1) Field of the Invention[0002] The present invention relates to a digital data distribution system that enables the Electronic Commerce, in which digital data is sold for a fee via a network.[0003] 2) Description of the Related Art[0004] In the Electronic Commerce that is conducted via a network, a consumer generally accesses a home page set up by an information provider. Then, the consumer selects digital data of his choice, goes through a purchasing process, and downloads the digital data. The digital data that has been downloaded undergoes a process for copyright protection such as encryption, in order to prevent illegal secondary distribution of the digital data that occurs through the network.[0005] A conventional digital data distribution system will now be explained referring to FIG. 1.[0006] Digital data to be distributed is stored encrypted in digital data storage means 105, which is stored in a distribution server 101 operated by the info...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0016] To achieve the aforementioned object, the digital data distribution system according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a distribution server that distributes digital data, a receiving device that receives the digital data sent from the distribution server, a storage media in which the digital data that the receiving device has received is written, and an adapter that writes in the storage media the digital data that the receiving device has received. The receiving device includes communication means for accessing the distribution server, browsing means for browsing and responding to information sent from the distribution server, and adapter connection control means for controlling connection with the adapter. The storage media includes a media ID, which is information specific to the storage media and cannot be tampered with, the media ID being able to uniquely identify the storage media. The adapter includes secure communication means, an adapter ID that uniquely identifies the adapter, adapter ID detecting means for extracting the adapter ID and sending the adapter ID to the distribution server, media ID detecting means for extracting the media ID from the storage media and sending the media ID to the distribution server, storage media access means for writing and reading data in and from the storage media, and media access process control means for controlling the writing and reading in and from the storage media by the storage media access means. The distribution server includes secure communication means, sending and receiving means for sending and receiving information and the digital data to and from the receiving device, a distribution front end for creating information to be sent to the user and processing accesses by the user, a user administration database that stores user IDs and account information of related users, a digital data administration database that stores storage location information and use conditions of digital data to be distributed, an obtained rights administration database that stores information regarding a right to receive distribution of digital data that each user has obtained, a history database that stores information regarding digital data that has been distributed to users in the past, an adapter administration database that stores adapter IDs of adapters that each user uses, a storage media administration database that stores media IDs of storage medias that each user uses, distribution digital data storage means for storing encrypted digital data and decryption keys for decrypting the encrypted digital data, key encryption means for encrypting the decryption key stored in the distribution digital data storage means, using the media ID sent from the media ID detecting means, and digital data distribution means for sending to the receiving device the encrypted digital data and the encrypted decryption key based on a direction from the distribution front end, the encrypted digital data being stored in the distribution digital data storage means, the decryption key being encrypted by the key encryption means. The secure communication means of the adapter and the secure communication means of the distribution server communicate with each other, thereby establishing a secure communication path between the adapter and the distribution server. The communication between each structural element within the adapter and each structural element within the distribution server is conducted through the secure communication path that has been established. The distribution front end authorizes a user based on the adapter ID sent from the adapter ID detecting means. The distribution front end determines whether the digital data with respect to which distribution is requested can be distributed, by referring to the obtained rights administration database, the history database, the digital data administration database, and the storage media administration database, in order to execute processes in response to a request for distribution of digital data from the authorized user.

0017] The digital data distribution system according to claim 2 of the present invention includes a distribution server that distributes digital data, a receiving device that receives the digital data sent from the distribution server, a storage media in which the digital data that the receiving device has received is written, and an adapter that writes in the storage media the digital data that the receiving device has received. The receiving device includes communication means for accessing the distribution server, browsing means for browsing and responding to information sent from the distribution server, and adapter connection control means for controlling connection with the adapter. The storage media includes a media ID, which is information specific to the storage media that cannot be tampered with, the media ID being able to uniquely identify the storage media. The adapter includes secure communication means, an adapter ID that uniquely identifies the adapter, adapter ID detecting means for extracting the adapter ID and sending the adapter ID to the distribution server, media ID detecting means for extracting the media ID from the storage media and sending the media ID to the distribution server, key encryption means, storage media access means for writing and reading data in and from the storage media, media access process control means for controlling the writing and reading in and from the storage media by the storage media access means. The distribution server includes secure communication means, sending and receiving means for sending and receiving information and the digital data to and from the receiving device, a distribution front end for creating information to be sent to the user and processing accesses by the user, a user administration database that stores user IDs and account information of related users, a digital data administration database that stores storage location information and use conditions of digital data to be distributed, an obtained rights administration database that stores information regarding a right to receive distribution of digital data that each user has obtained, a history database that stores information regarding digital data that has been distributed to users in the past, an adapter administration database that stores adapter IDs of adapters that each user uses, a storage media administration database that stores media IDs of storage medias that each user uses, distribution digital data storage means for storing encrypted digital data and decryption keys for decrypting the encrypted digital data, and digital data distribution means for sending to the receiving device the encrypted digital data and the decryption key that are stored in the distribution digital data storage means based on a direction from the distribution front end. The key encryption means encrypts the decryption key using the media ID detected by the media ID detecting means, the decryption key being distributed by the digital data distribution means, the storage media access control means writing in the storage means the decryption key encrypted by the key encryption means by controlling the storage media access means. The secure communication means of the adapter and the secure communication means of the distribution server communicate with each other, thereby establishing a secure communication path between the adapter and the distribution server. The communication between each structural element within the adapter and each structural element within the distribution server is conducted through the secure communication path that has been established. The distribution front end authorizes a user based on the adapter ID sent from the adapter ID detecting means. The distribution front end determines whether the digital data with respect to which distribution is requested can be distributed by referring to the obtained rights administration database, the history database, the digital data administration database, and the storage media administration database, in order to execute processes in response to a request for distribution of digital data from the authorized user.

0018] The digital data distribution system of claim 3 of the present invention includes a distribution server that distributes digital data, a receiving device that receives the digital data sent from the distribution server, a storage media in which the digital data that the receiving device has received is written, and an adapter that writes in the storage media the digital data that the receiving device has received. The receiving device includes communication means for accessing the distribution server, browsing means for browsing and responding to information sent from the distribution server, and adapter connection control means for controlling connection with the adapter. The storage media includes a media ID, which is information specific to the storage media and cannot be tampered with, the media ID being able to uniquely identify the storage media. The adapter includes secure communication means, an adapter ID that uniquely identifies the adapter, adapter ID detecting means for extracting the adapter ID and sending the adapter ID to the distribution server, media ID detecting means for extracting the media ID from the storage media and sending the media ID to the distribution server, encryption conversion means, key encryption means, storage media access means for writing and reading data in and from the storage media, and media access process control means for controlling the writing and reading in and from the storage media by the storage media access means. The distribution server includes secure communication means, sending and receiving means for sending and receiving information and the digital data to and from the receiving device, a distribution front end for creating information to be sent to the user and processing accesses by the user, a user administration database that stores user IDs and account information of related users, a digital data administration database that stores storage location information and use conditions of digital data to be distributed, an obtained rights administration database that stores information regarding a right to receive distribution of digital data that each user has obtained, a history database that stores information regarding digital data that has been distributed to users in the past, an adapter administration database that stores adapter IDs of adapters that each user uses, a storage media administration database that stores media IDs of storage medias that each user uses, distribution digital data storage means for storing digital data that is encrypted with a first encryption system and a decryption key that decrypts the digital data encrypted with the first encryption system, and digital data distribution means for sending to the receiving device the encrypted digital data and the decryption key that are stored in the distribution digital data storage means based on a direction from the distribution front end, the digital data being encrypted with the first encryption system. The encryption conversion means decrypts the digital data which is encrypted with the first encryption system and distributed by the digital data distribution means with the decryption key that has been distributed by the digital data distribution means, and encrypts the decrypted digital data with a second encryption system. The key encryption means encrypts the key that has been used when the encryption conversion means encrypted the digital data with the second encryption system, using the media ID detected by the media ID detecting means. The storage media access control means writes in the storage media the key encrypted by the key encryption means, by controlling the storage media access means. The secure communication means of the adapter and the secure communication means of the distribution server communicate with each other, thereby establishing a secure communication path between the adapter and the distribution server. The communication between each structural element within the adapter and each structural element within the distribution server is conducted through the secure communication path that has been established. The distribution front end authorizes a user based on the adapter ID sent from the adapter ID detecting means. The distribution front end determines whether the digital data with respect to which distribution is requested can be distributed, by referring to the obtained rights administration database, the history database, the digital data administration database, and storage media administration database, in order to execute processes the in response to a request for distribution of digital data from the authorized user.

0019] According to a digital distribution control method of claim 4 of the present invention, in the digital distribution system as set forth in any of claims 1-3, the distribution front end authorizes a user based on the adapter ID sent from the adapter ID detecting means, and the distribution front end determines whether the digital data with respect to which distribution is requested can be distributed, by referring to the obtained rights administration database, the history database, the digital data administration database, and the storage media administration database, in response to a request for distribution of digital data from the authorized user, in order to execute processes.

Problems solved by technology

Such conventional digital data distribution system is always subject to possibilities of hacking activities by malicious consumers, such as illegal obtainment of the digital data from the distribution server 101 and illegal secondary distribution of the digital data that has been distributed to the receiving device 102.

However, the aforesaid conventional structure has following problems, because the equipment of the tamper-resistant technology within the receiving device is indispensable.

This is a huge burden for manufacturers which develop and sale devices.

Also, it is difficult for providers of digital data services to start new services if a tamper-resistant technology has to be developed for each receiving device every time a new service is started in order to let devices having different structures receive the service.

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